April 30, 1798 |
Act to Establish Department of the Navy |
Congress of the United States |
[not available] |
Official act that created Department of the Navy, commanded by the President of the United States. |
August 24, 1798 |
Query into the delivery of guns from Department of War to Department of Navy |
Benjamin Stoddert |
John Harris |
The Secretary of the Navy asks Mr. Harris the following question: "why is there any difficulty about delivering the guns" to the Purveyor, Mr. Francis? |
May 22, 1800 |
Request to deliver knapsacks to Navy Department |
James McHenry |
[not available] |
McHenry requests that John Harris deliver 300 knapsacks to the Navy Department for which they will be charged. |
August 13, 1798 |
Request to deliver worst of the old muskets to the Secretary of Navy |
James McHenry |
John Harris |
The Secretary at War authorizes the transfer of 700 of "the worst of the old muskets now in store" to the Navy, to be valued by Mr. Nicholson and charged to Tench Francis, purveyor. On the same document is a note from Benjamin Stoddert Secretary of Navy expressing irritation as to why there is difficulty on delivering the guns to Tench Francis Purveyor. |
June 24, 1800 |
Receiving Stores Not Purchased for the Navy |
Robert Gill |
Samuel Hodgdon |
Gill declares that he has been authorized only to receive stores intended for the Navy Department. However, when it has been represented to him that some articles suitable for the Navy Department have been sent to the Military Store he agreed to accept them. But he has no intention of accepting articles purchased expressly for the Military Store and not in use by the Navy. |
February 1, 1799 |
Army & Navy Appointments |
Benjamin Stoddert |
Alexander Hamilton |
Routine correspondence recommending individuals for Army and Navy appointments. |
July 14, 1798 |
Marine Articles Purchased for the Navy |
Samuel Hodgdon |
John Harris |
The Secretary of Navy has ordered his storekeeper to take charge of all articles purchased for the use of the Navy so Harris is ordered to send such articles to the Navy store. |
August 24, 1798 |
Expression of frustration from Navy Secretary to the Purveyor of Public Supplies |
Benjamin Stoddert |
Tench Francis |
Secretary of the Navy seeks to expedite the transfer of the worst of the muskets to the Navy. He notes with frustration that if persons in public service will seek to embarrass instead of doing the public service, the it will be difficult to put ourselves into a state to resist a formidable enemy. |
June 30, 1798 |
Details on Style of Navy Uniforms |
John Caldwell |
[not available] |
Extract from document by John Caldwell on styles of navy uniforms. |
March 21, 1800 |
Information on the Pay of Navy |
William Simmons |
Thomas Turner |
Turner requested information on the cost of equipment and vessels built prior to the Navy Department. Simmons replied that the only record his Office hold was of payment of pay and subsistence of the Navy, incidental, and contingent expenses, none of which Simmons felt pertained to Turner's request. |
January 10, 1798 |
Certification of payments; account of Captain John Barry, United States Navy |
William Simmons |
James McHenry |
Certification that $335.40 is due Captain John Barry of the Navy, being the amount of account of pay and subsistence for October through December 1797. |
September 7, 1798 |
Transfer of records |
William Simmons |
Accountant's Office |
Simmons transfers records and accounts pertaining to the Navy Department to the Accountant of the Navy. |
June 13, 1798 |
Information about Secretary of the Navy |
John Caldwell |
James McHenry |
Discusses proper interaction with the Secretary of the Navy. |
October 2, 1799 |
Request for Advice on Construction of Washington Navy Yard & Wharves There |
Benjamin Stoddert |
Joshua Humphreys |
Calls Humphreys' attention to the Navy Yard at Washington, where Navy agents are apparently awaiting Humphreys' input before beginning construction; also discusses the hiring of an individual who is proficient in constructing wharves. |
June 27, 1799 |
Cannon Shot for the Navy |
James McHenry |
John Harris |
Harris is asked to deliver 532 pounds of cannon shot, charged to the Navy Department, to the order of the Secretary of the Navy. |
October 3, 1798 |
Letter to the Accountant of the Navy |
James Tripplett |
Navy Accountant |
Writes to the accountant of the Navy Department on the subject of accounts, Marines, and the USS Constellation. |
March 5, 1797 |
Description of Lumber in Former Navy Yard |
Foreman Cheeseman |
Josiah Fox |
Letter, discusses lumber in former Navy yard. |
March 21, 1800 |
Requests Information about Department Costs |
Thomas Turner |
William Simmons |
The Secretary of the Navy has requested an estimate of the cost and equipment of all vessels in the service of the Navy. Requests amount charged in Simmons's department. |
January 1, 1799 |
Worthiness of Captain Robinson |
Benjamin Stoddert |
Alexander Hamilton |
Stoddert seeks Hamilton's assessment of Capt. Robinson as a potential commander in the Navy. |
October 8, 1800 |
Request for linen overalls |
Samuel Hodgdon |
John Harris |
Requests Delivery of 150 Pairs of Sergeants' Linen Overalls to Israel Whelen for use of Navy Department. |
April 3, 1798 |
Forwarding of Estimate of Materials & Apparatus at Boston Navy Yard |
Henry Jackson |
Josiah Fox |
Letter, encloses estimate of materials & apparatus at Boston Navy yard; alludes to Navy Department. |
October 24, 1799 |
Encloses Order for Powder for Navy in New York |
Benjamin Stoddert |
James McHenry |
Encloses order for 9 tons of powder to be delivered to the Navy agents at New York. |
August 30, 1799 |
Letter from the Accountant of the War Department |
William Simmons |
John S. Boss |
Simmons informs Boss that Navy accounts and War Department accounts must remain separate. |
July 12, 1799 |
Dispute Over Relative Importance of the Army & Navy, & Need for Congressional Approval of Military Supply System |
James McHenry |
John Adams |
McHenry addresses a dispute between himself and the Secretary of the Navy, Benjamin Stoddert, regarding the relative importance of the army and navy. Also notes review of Hamilton's plan of military supply, and is of the opinion that its adoption requires no act of Congress. However, given the controversy on this matter, he will also submit it to the Secretaries of the Navy and State for their... |
October 6, 1798 |
Requesting Pay for Six Months as Clerk of the Navy Yard |
Caleb Gibbs |
Navy Accountant |
Requesting pay for his previous six months as clerk of the Navy Yard to be sent by the return post. |